Connect Professionally: Networking Tips for Shy Person

Meeting a lot of people and forming professional connections can be exhausting for some individuals. However, it doesn’t mean that they cannot network with others. Here are some tips on how to network successfully and confidently—even as a shy person.

Sometimes the act of going out and connecting with new people may easily exhaust some people. These individuals are not necessarily introverts—the difference between introverted and extroverted individuals only lies in the way they recharge their energy. An introverted person prefers spending time alone to restore their energy while an extroverted person prefers to be around their friends to boost up themselves.

Building a network can be arduous when you are a shy person. However, no matter how shy or how introverted you are, networking is essential if you want to expand your horizons and enhance your professional value. If you are the type of person who is too shy to approach people, here are some useful insights for you.

Start with Your Closest Circle

Practicing with colleagues or your close friends is a good start. Reach out to them and arrange a friendly meet-up outside working hours. Aside from practicing conversing with other people, you can use this chance to tell them about your interest in expanding your network. The more you do this with different people, the better your reflexes are when dealing with people. Starting with people you are comfortable with will make it easier.

Prepare before In-Person Events

A lot of people feel like talking at a social event is overwhelming and drains their energy too fast. While each person has their method on preserving energy, preparing yourself can help in making your networking time worthwhile. For instance, you can prepare one or two conversational topics related to the event’s theme. You can take it further by researching the attendees, so you know who you want to connect with during the event.

Overcome Anxiousness

Anxiousness when interacting with other people often stems from the fear of being perceived, especially with strangers and a large crowd. However, you cannot control what other people think of you, but you can control how you present yourself. Learn what makes you confident, practice nonverbal communication, and try to be mindful of your surroundings. Don’t worry if you need time—fake it ‘till you make it, followed by diligent practices, and you’ll be fine.

Reflect on Your Experiences 

Evaluate your experience after every networking event. Make a mental note of what you’ve achieved and what you can improve. Don’t beat yourself when something doesn’t happen according to plan. Use it as a learning point and identify what you can do to prevent it from happening again. This way, you will be more confident in your next networking event.

Do Online Networking

For some people, online networking is easier because they can connect with other professionals without having to meet them in person. Although the pandemic self-isolation regulation ended a long time ago, online networking is still around and popular. There are many ways to do online networking, such as online meetings, online seminars and workshops, and online communities, such as Facebook groups and LinkedIn communities.

Finally, the most important thing to become better at networking is to be yourself. There are ways to stay true to your reserved self as a person while knowing how to approach people to help you go far in your career. By practicing and reflecting on your mistakes, there are no obstacles that you cannot overcome, including expanding your professional network.

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